Betting system for games of chance and skill

ABSTRACT

Game betting tokens are designated as  1, 10  and  100  and a series of betting token placement positions numbered 0-9, enabling small bets by placing the 1 value token on any one of positions  0 - 9  indicating bets increasing in value at single unit intervals and by placing the 10 value token on any one of positions  1 - 9  indicating bets increasing in value at 10 unit intervals with token values being additive. In large bets position numbers are unitary parts of exponents applied to the tokens; placing the 1 value token on any one of positions  0 - 9  indicates bets increasing unitarily exponentially, respectively, 2 0 =1 unit-29 units, placing the 10 value token on 1-9 indicating bets increasing exponentially in value from 210=1000 unit-290 units, with token values being additive. Consecutively numbered token placement positions are remotely positioned for enhanced visibility of token movement and positions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a betting system for games of chance or skill

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is often desired to increase a bet during the course of a game as a competitor's position and perceived prospects of winning are perceived to change from move to move, such increases even being written into the rules of games such as backgammon in which a ‘doubling’ dice is provided for that purpose.

However, the increases are rather limited as there are only six faces on the dice, while the dice itself is rather small and may be difficult to spectators to see at a glance.

It would be desirable both to significantly improve the opportunity of increasing the size of the bet during the progression of the game and to improve the visibility of a changing bet

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the invention provides a method for making and displaying, selectively, small and large bets in a game comprising:

providing first and second betting tokens respectively designated as 1 and 10 and readily visually distinguishable to bettors;

providing a series of betting token placement positions numbered 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and, 9;

making small bets by:

placing the 1 value token on any one of positions 0-9 to indicate bets varying/increasing in value at single unit intervals from 0 units(no bet)-9 units, respectively,

placing the 10 value token on any one of positions 1-9 to indicate bets varying/increasing in value at 10 unit intervals from 10 units-90 units;

and so that when both tokens are placed on token placement positions of the series, values corresponding to the tokens cumulative individual betting units are indicated; and,

making large bets by

designating the position numbers as unitary parts of exponents applied to the tokens;

placing the 1 value token on any one of positions 0-9 to indicate bets varying/increasing exponentially in value at unitary exponential intervals from, respectively, 2⁰=1 unit-2⁹=500 units, approximately, such that movement of the 1 value token to an adjacent position doubles a previous bet;

placing the 10 value token on any one of positions 1-9 to indicate bets varying/increasing exponentially in value at approximate deca exponential intervals from 2¹⁰=1000 unit-2⁹⁰ units, respectively, indicating 10 doubles-90 doubles, respectively,

and so that when both tokens are placed on token placement positions of the series, values corresponding to the tokens cumulative individual betting units are indicated;

Thus, the size of bet can be increased greatly, as desired by a player in a winning position.

Preferably, sequentially numbered token placement positions are at remote locations from each other so that movement of a token from a token placement position of one number to a token placement position of a next number can be easily seen.

According to another aspect, the invention provides betting apparatus comprising:

means defining a game playing area;

a betting token;

means providing token placement positions numbered 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and, 9;

wherein consecutively numbered token placement positions are at remote locations from each other so that movement of a token from a token placement position of one number to a token placement position of a next number can be easily seen.

It is further preferred that token placement positions numbered, 0, 2, 4, 6, and, 8 are located adjacent one side of a playing area and the positions numbered 9, 7, 5, 3, and, 1 are located on an opposite side of the playing area so that a minimum change in a bet is made by moving a token across the playing area from one token placement position to a next token placement position in full view of players and spectators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a game marked with token placement positions according to the invention; and,

FIG. 2 are schematic perspective views of three betting tokens of different values.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of this method of indicating wagers in connection with a board game such as Lamle's “FAROOK”™ game; U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,080, (the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference), is to have the numbers 0, 2, 4, 6, and, 8 on one side of the playing area 11 of the board 12 and the numbers 9, 7, 5, 3, and, 1 on the other side of the playing area so that players and spectators can see the token or marker move across the playing area 11 of the board from one position to the next to indicate an increase in wager or bet. A group 13 of unit markers are located on the board off the betting area.

Players use tokens marked with 1, 10, 100 and of distinctly different shapes, as shown in FIG. 2, to indicate their bet in either of the following manners:

Small Style Betting

One token is placed on the position numbered zero. This indicates that there is no bet. Players, at their turn, may increase the bet by one unit and indicate the increased bet by moving the marker from its current position to the next higher numbered position. For example, the one marker is moved from zero to one. This indicates a bet of one unit. A unit may be one point, a dollar, a euro or, other denominations. The movement of the one marker from position one to position two indicates that the player intends to bet two units on the outcome of the game. Should an opponent not accept the bet, the opponent resigns and pays the previous amount (e.g., one unit). At each stage a player whose turn it is to make a move may have the option of increasing the bet by one unit. A nine-unit bet is indicated by the one marker on position nine . A ten-unit bet is indicated by the ten marker on position one and the one unit placed on position zero, or the unit marker off the betting area. Thus, indicating one ten-unit bet and no one-unit bets. A bet of 123 would have a 100-unit marker on the one, a ten marker on the two and a one-unit marker on the three position. However, a bet of 122 would be indicated by having a 100 marker on the one position and both the ten marker and the one marker sharing the two position. Thus, in the first embodiment for small style betting, each position number functions as a simple multiplier of the face value of an individual marker placed thereon, the numerical value of the resulting product providing a betting unit and the total bet is the sum of the values of the betting units obtained from the placement of all individual markers.

Large Style Betting “Doubling”

Upon Agreement by the Players to Proceed with Large Style Betting, the Markers and the Positions have the Following Functions:

The position numbers function as a unitary parts of exponents or powers applied, sometimes in an approximate manner, to the one marker.

A one marker in the zero position indicates that a bet of one unit is offered by a player. This is equivalent to 2⁰=1. If a player moves the marker to the next higher number (e.g., position one) the value of the bet is 2, 2¹=2. A one marker on position 2 equals a bet of 4 units, 2²=4. This process continues through positions 3, 4, 5 and, 6 thus indicating, respectively, bets of 8, 16, 32 and, 64. Thus, movement of a one marker simply doubles the previous bet

For the convenience of players and observers, when the marker is placed on position seven, the value is not 2⁷=128, instead, the value is 125. A one marker on position eight is then 250; position nine is then 500.

Thus, 2⁰=1 unit, 2¹=2 units, 2²=4 units, 2³=8 units, 2⁴=16 units, 2⁵=32 units, 2⁶=64 units, 2⁷=125 units, 2⁸=250 units, 2⁹=500 units

However, a ten marker indicates the deca part of the exponent or power applied to the one marker (to the first three significant figures). Thus, a ten marker on the one position is equal to 1,000 (10 approximate doubles). If the ten marker is on the one and the one marker is also on the one, this indicates that there are approximately 11 doubles of the original one-unit bet. Therefore the value is 2¹¹=2,000 units, Similarly, if the ten marker is on the one and the one marker is on 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, respectively, the value of the bet is respectively: 2¹²=4,000 units, 2¹³=8,000 units, 2¹⁴=16,000 units, 2¹⁵=32,000 units, 2¹⁶=64,000 units, 2¹⁷=125,000 units, 2¹⁸=250,000 units, 2¹⁹=500,000 units, respectively. The next higher bet would move ten bet from one to two, indicating that there were approximately 20 doubles. Thus, this indicates a bet of 1,000,000 units—twice the previous amount as indicated by the ten on the one and the one marker on the nine. Players may increase the wager to astronomical amounts. A ten marker on the three indicates approximately 30 doubles or 1 billion units; a ten marker on the four indicates a bet of 1 trillion units. The amount bet can be determined at a glance, for example, if the ten marker is on a two and the one marker is on a five, the amount bet is 32,000,000 units.

A player who moves the marker at his/her turn indicates that the player has offered a bet to the other player(s). If an opponent makes a move following the offered bet that bet is considered accepted by the opponent. As an alternative, the opponent may resign and thus pay the previous wager, as half the amount indicated by the position of the marker(s) on the numbered spaces.

The game board can be constituted by, or comprise, an electronic display.

In a card game, a strip with the following arrangement of numbers also produces a large, visible manoeuvre to increase the bet: 0, 8, 4, 6, 2, 7, 5, 3, 9, 1. 

1. A method for making and displaying, selectively, small and large bets in a game comprising: providing first and second betting tokens respectively designated as 1 and 10 and readily visually distinguishable to bettors; providing a series of betting token placement positions numbered 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and, 9; making small bets by: placing the 1 value token on any one of positions 0-9 to indicate bets varying/increasing in value at single unit intervals from 0 units(no bet)-9 units, respectively, placing the 10 value token on any one of positions 1-9 to indicate bets varying/increasing in value at 10 unit intervals from 10 units-90 units; and so that when both tokens are placed on token placement positions of the series, values corresponding to the tokens cumulative individual betting units are indicated; and, making large bets by designating the position numbers as unitary parts of exponents applied to the tokens; placing the 1 value token on any one of positions 0-9 to indicate bets varying/increasing exponentially in value at the approximate unitary exponential intervals from, respectively, 2⁰=1 unit-2⁹=500 units, approximately, such that movement of the 1 value token to an adjacent position doubles a previous bet; placing the 10 value token on any one of positions 1-9 to indicate bets varying/increasing exponentially in value at approximate deca exponential intervals from 2¹⁰=1000 unit-2⁹⁰ units, respectively, indicating 10 doubles-90 doubles, respectively, and so that when both tokens are placed on token placement positions of the series, values corresponding to the tokens cumulative individual betting units are indicated;
 2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising providing a third token designated/marked as 100 for use in making small bets by placing on any one of positions 1-9 to indicate bets varying/increasing in value at 100 unit intervals from 100 units-900 units.
 3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein consecutively/sequentially numbered token placement positions are at remote locations from each other so that movement of a token from a token placement position of one number to a token placement position of a next number can be easily seen.
 4. The method according to claim 3 wherein consecutively/sequentially numbered token placement positions are adjacent respective opposite sides of a game playing area so that a minimum change in a bet is made by moving a token across the playing area from one token placement position to a next token placement position in full view of players and spectators.
 5. The method according to claim 4 wherein a series of token placement positions numbered, 0, 2, 4, 6, and, 8 are located adjacent one side of a playing area and the positions numbered 9, 7, 5, 3, and, 1 are located on an opposite side of the playing area.
 6. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the series of token placement positions are arranged in a row/column out of sequential order so as to require a large, visible maneuver to make a minimum change in a bet by moving a token from one token placement position to a next token placement position.
 7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the token placement positions are arranged in the row/column in an order of 0, 8, 4, 6, 2, 7, 5, 3, 9, 1,
 8. Apparatus for making and displaying selectively, small and large bets in a game comprising: first and second betting tokens respectively designated as 1 and 10 and readily visually distinguishable to bettors; means providing a series of betting token placement positions numbered 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and, 9; whereby small bets can be made by: placing the 1 value token on any one of positions 0-9 to indicate bets varying/increasing in value at single unit intervals from 0 units(no bet)-9 units, respectively, placing the 10 value token on any one of positions 1-9 to indicate bets varying/increasing in value at 10 unit intervals from 10 units-90 units; and so that when both tokens are placed on token placement positions of the series, values corresponding to the tokens cumulative individual betting units are indicated; and, large bets can be made by: designating the position numbers as unitary parts of exponents applied to the tokens; placing the 1 value token on any one of positions 0-9 to indicate bets varying/increasing exponentially in value at approximate unitary exponential intervals from, respectively, 2⁰=1 unit-2⁹ units, approximately, such that movement of the 1 value token to an adjacent position doubles a previous bet; placing the 10 value token on any one of positions 1-9 to indicate bets varying/increasing exponentially in value at approximate deca exponential intervals from 2¹⁰=1000 unit-2⁹⁰ units, respectively, indicating 10 doubles-90 doubles, respectively, and so that when both tokens are placed on token placement positions of the series, values corresponding to the tokens cumulative individual betting units are indicated.
 9. Betting apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a third token designated/marked as 100 for use in making small bets by placing the on any one of positions 1-9 to indicate bets varying/increasing in value at 100 unit intervals from 100 units-900 units.
 10. Betting apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein consecutively/sequentially numbered token placement positions are at remote locations from each other so that movement of a token from a token placement position of one number to a token placement position of a next number can be easily seen.
 11. Betting apparatus according to claim 10 wherein consecutively/sequentially numbered token placement positions are adjacent respective opposite sides of a game playing area so that a minimum change in a bet is made by moving a token across the playing area from one token placement position to a next token placement position in full view of players and spectators.
 12. Betting apparatus according to claim 11 wherein a series of token placement positions numbered, 0, 2, 4, 6, and, 8 are located adjacent one side of a playing area and the positions numbered 9, 7, 5, 3, and, 1 are located on an opposite side of the playing area.
 13. Betting apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the series of token placement positions are arranged in a row/column out of sequential order so as to require a large, visible maneuver to make a minimum change in a bet by moving a token from one token placement position to a next token placement position.
 14. Betting apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the token placement positions are arranged in the row/column in an order of 0, 8, 4, 6, 2, 7, 5, 3, 9,
 1. 15-19. (canceled) 